The long-awaited Margate Harbour Arm development opened for business this weekend.

The four month renovation is seen as a vital part of the regeneration of the old town area, Fiona Sherriff of Margate Harbour Arm Ltd said: “I am amazed at all the progress in Margate at the moment. There are so many road works and scaffolds, the old town area looks like a building site. It just shows how much investment is going on here and it will be great when it is all finished.

“We had such a positive response to the opening event on Saturday that we are keeping the bar and stalls open on today and tomorrow as well. Tomorrow, hundreds of classic motorcycles will be lined up along the Harbour Arm which will be amazing to see. We are also going to be using the space out on the Harbour Arm for other events over the summer.”

Isle of Thanet Arts’ new gallery is open all weekend with its summer exhibition called Out On A Limb, while most of its neighbouring retail units are spoken for with occupants due to move in in the next few weeks once leases are signed and the interiors are finished.

Co-developer Graham Knight added: “We were determined to move the project along to ensure that it was ready for people to enjoy for the whole summer. A few weeks ago we decided that the deadline would be this Bank Holiday weekend, and the team have been working hard to make sure it is finished on time. There is still some cosmetic work left to do, but the site is safe for visitors, and the new colour scheme looks fantastic.”

Saturday’s opening ceremony was followed by music and entertainment, with a fireworks display.

This development is a private and public sector collaboration funded by Margate Harbour Arm and the European Regional Development fund through the Margate Renewal Partnership and Thanet council.